ID: Baby Mantis?

[marrone]

The pictures that you posted are pretty clear, and they look like Pods.

 

[rookie07]

ok, thats great to hear. Thank you all for your help!

 

[THEDLO]

idk...this one seems guilty....and im seeing the claws...i really hope otherwise.

 

[waynotcars]

Well, some folks pay big money for Mantis Shrimp!

 

[marrone]

But not in their main tank. They can, and do, kill a lot of fish and inverts.

 

[waynotcars]

Thats correctamundo. They do keep them is species only tanks. I was watching u tube videos last night of them. This one guy was picking up and PETTING this huge mantis! It was about 6 to 8 inches long. You should check out those videos. I would never want a Mantis but people keep tarantulas, scorpions, poisonus snakes. Why not Mantos shrimp I guess? They were COOL in those videos.

 

[rookie07]

also, I think I should mention that I have had saltwater tanks for over 3 years, and never thought this about any pod before...and I only have these type of pods in one tank (The same tank that had a mantis, and a odd mantis looking spawning)....

Between the info above, and how close these look to mantis pictures, I think they are mantis.

Anyone want to buy some? J/K

 

[rookie07]

Mantis Shrimp don't curl their bodies up and sit down, like in the first & second picture. Mantis Shrimp also move way different then pods do, something you should notice when one is moving around. You should also notice the difference in the eyes, Mantis Shrimp has big eyes which move around.

Marrone: I ddint read this post correctly the first time. The pictures were blurry b/c the animal in question was constantly moving and searching in the gravel.

I also think I have observe one of the larger creatures actually stretching out its claws and kind of filtering the water with its claws...do baby mantis use there claws/clawhair to filter the water for food?

 

[THEDLO]

also, I think I should mention that I have had saltwater tanks for over 3 years, and never thought this about any pod before...and I only have these type of pods in one tank (The same tank that had a mantis, and a odd mantis looking spawning)....

Between the info above, and how close these look to mantis pictures, I think they are mantis.

Anyone want to buy some? J/K

so u actually had a mantis in that tank with that lr?

 

[rookie07]

I caught one....

This is a Mantis, right?

 

[THEDLO]

damn....sure is...so there are more?

 

[rookie07]

I know its a different type of mantis, but I dont think this is one big egg!

Yes there are more

 

[rookie07]

I am hopeful that, like my fire shrimp spawn, these mantis babies will never reach adulthood as they will die trying to molt at some point.

Wish me luck

 

[THEDLO]

im wishing!

 

[tentacles]

Looks like you caught some dinner, lol.




Do you have a bucket or spare tank that you could put it in, then maybe feed it some mysis or something to see if it uses its claws (if it has any)? I'm not a taxonomist, but it's body shape looks pretty characteristic to that of a mantis. It has more pronounced segmentation on its back than amphipods usually do. The eyes are throwing me a little bit though, mantis usually have more bulbous, protruding eyes, but I don't know when they begin to develop in juv. mantis shrimp. It would be interesting if you could keep in QT for a few weeks to see how it develops.

(Or if it dies, look at it under a scope :Hydrogen

 

[Boomer]

That is a not a Mantis but a "Tiger" Amphipod.

 

[rookie07]

I think that Boomer is right, thanks Boomer!

 

[Boomer]

You can tell rookie it is not an Stomatopod by the lack of the very long and complex Pleopods hanging out of the abdomen. You can also tell but looking at the reduced Chelipeds and the lack of stalked eyes same for Antennae.

 

[marrone]

Everything Boomer said is what I said, outside putting a name to it. There was never any question that this was a Pod and NOT a Mantis Shrimp.

 

[waynotcars]

I knew it wasn't a baby Mantis but he op got so upset when told it wasn't. Seemed he was already convinced it was BUT it sure made for an interesting thread!